The latest musical tribute to Johnny Cash was released to radio on June 30th.
“Johnny Cash Is Dead (And His House Burned Down)” is a searing, rockabilly groove written by his longtime friend Larry Gatlin. The song infuses new lyrics with the melody from Johnny Cash’s “Big River” to document some of the well-defined artists who helped to build country’s foundation: Cash, Waylon Jennings, Patsy Cline, Chet Atkins and Marty Robbins.
“There are few who could sing these words and get away with it,” writes John Carter Cash, the son of Johnny and June Carter. “It is not a song about a man dying and a house burning. It is about a time passing, a certain quality of artist and entertainer just not being there. It reminds me that though there are many inspired and dedicated artists alive today, there will never be another Johnny Cash, another Roy Orbison or another Waylon Jennings.”